Did anyone not like UCD

logic123

thanks for the advice msslt but im going to re applying for Kings, UCL neuroscience back in London as they have one of the best science departments in the country. I just need a more academic uni and i dont really feel that UCD is going to give me the academic rigour, to youand other people will fell differently.

ironclaw

logic123 wrote: »

thanks for the advice msslt but im going to re applying for Kings, UCL neuroscience back in London as they have one of the best science departments in the country. I just need a more academic uni and i dont really feel that UCD is going to give me the academic rigour, to youand other people will fell differently.

I felt the same way and it is a hard balance. UCD is very much about partying and drinking, lets be honest. Most clubs and Soc's tried to get me to join based on how "messy" the night was. But on the flip side, its the nicest place I've ever studied. I'd be confident enough that nothing would be stolen or messed with if I left it down with a mate anywhere. I can't say that about anywhere else.

Frankly, I think your over reacting. If you want to spend the rest of your life studying and never have any social side, leave UCD. I'm very studious (near max points in the LC) but even I acknowledge that the next 5 years (again studious as I'm on a 5 year course) of my life I would rather spend socially.

misslt

ironclaw wrote: »

I felt the same way and it is a hard balance. UCD is very much about partying and drinking, lets be honest. Most clubs and Soc's tried to get me to join based on how "messy" the night was. But on the flip side, its the nicest place I've ever studied. I'd be confident enough that nothing would be stolen or messed with if I left it down with a mate anywhere. I can't say that about anywhere else.

Frankly, I think your over reacting. If you want to spend the rest of your life studying and never have any social side, leave UCD. I'm very studious (near max points in the LC) but even I acknowledge that the next 5 years (again studious as I'm on a 5 year course) of my life I would rather spend socially.

That's a good point - yes a lot of focus is placed on the social life in UCD but as with any University, it's up to you how much study you do, how much work you put in - no-one is here to take you by the hand and say - do this, do that - you're on your own. You can spend your life in UCD partying every night and fail your course - or you can put the effort in.

I'm rambling a bit - what i'm trying to say is with any uni its always up to you how much academic work you do.

logic123

its not that i am incapable of socialising, but i have different few on socialising which dosent include drinking till late hours of the night or just partying at clubs. and your right, ibe been there two weeks and its very much the drink and social type uni, it dosent strike me as the most academic, oviously if you have been to britain then you will oviously see a difference.

dyl10

Academic Rigour, sounds like a porno...

OP, is your problem not that you've gone from the A levels to an Irish University, designed primarily for Irish school leavers?
Seeing as the A levels are at a higher level than the leaving cert, surely the fault is partly yours for not doing your research before coming here?

Anyway, good luck with your new university!

logic123

ok ok heres a plan, tell me guys what you think

I could finish off my year at UCD, probably spending alot of money already doing stuff i have done, still apply for Kings next year

But finish off my year at UCD, worth it?

Donald-Duck

logic123 wrote: »

its not that i am incapable of socialising, but i have different few on socialising which dosent include drinking till late hours of the night or just partying at clubs. and your right, ibe been there two weeks and its very much the drink and social type uni, it dosent strike me as the most academic, oviously if you have been to britain then you will oviously see a difference.

No its pretty much a worldwide thing.

University isn't for having your mammy hold your hand and bring you to it every day.

misslt

That's not totally fair.

What I'm trying to say is, the university is what you make it.

You could go to Oxford or Cambridge and still piss your first year away and fail miserably.

You get out what you put in.

@dyl10 - I don't think thats the problem at all - a lot of people do it - like me. (yes, I am also only in first year in my 2nd week and have no idea what i'm talking about )

Logic - finish the year. You might spend the rest of your life wondering 'what if I had have stayed in UCD...'. At least then you'll be totally sure and have made the right decision.

dyl10

logic123 wrote: »

its not that i am incapable of socialising, but i have different few on socialising which dosent include drinking till late hours of the night or just partying at clubs. and your right, ibe been there two weeks and its very much the drink and social type uni, it dosent strike me as the most academic, oviously if you have been to britain then you will oviously see a difference.

Have you even been to university in Britain?

logic123

lol some people on here arnt exactly nice hehe, no but seriously not all unis are about social and drink, some unis more than othes have a greater deal of people wanting to actually study and not go out on the bail every night, UCD has a higher % of drinkers probs than other universities, not all universities are the same

misslt

But logic - you haven't been to other universities!

And most of them, bar the elite of the elite, have a lot of emphasis on the social life.

Anyways.

Give it a chance and see. You might regret it if you don't.

Chucky the tree

logic123 wrote: »

lol some people on here arnt exactly nice hehe, no but seriously not all unis are about social and drink, some unis more than othes have a greater deal of people wanting to actually study and not go out on the bail every night, UCD has a higher % of drinkers probs than other universities, not all universities are the same

In Ireland they are and I'd even say the majority of English ones are the same as well.

logic123

lol i already decided to go, then i cam back for another 3 days now im back in england, i highly doubt its be able to slot myself back in tbh, the point im trying to make is, i wont have to do a foundation year in england, which means that first yer neuro over here is equivalent to 2nd year neuro in UCD, is it really worth coming back to UCD for a year, considering the enormous cost.

El Siglo

logic123 wrote: »

probably why then, no im not getting at anyone, i just didnt really realise that they would have this sort of general year before starting your real degree, which would of been better if they said on the site. At least when i was doing my registration it gave me no choice but to do all these introductory courses which was a little pain. But getting in those lectures turned out to be a choir not to fall a sleep i didnt have any choice not to pick them i guess it didnt pick up the fact that i did acheive AAAB in my A levels.

Hold on a minute, you spent like one week in the place, managed to fall in love with somebody and you found out you didn't like the course. Sounds a wee bit mental imo. Secondly, you're A levels, although excellent, nobody not least of which the lecturers will care what you got. Note to all freshers: you are maggot scum with lizard size brains, you haven't the ability to conjure a seminal iota of thought, regardless of how many points or As you get in your bullshit state exams. The 1st month is supposed to ease you into college, the first semester is to ease you into the material and first year is to ease you into academia. If lecturers were to start off on the tricky stuff first, it would be unfair to Irish students who haven't developed the breath and depth of knowledge required for the course (i.e. our leaving cert is a very broad course, not conducive to third level academia). This is Ireland, not the UK, the courses cater more or less to the requirements of Irish students in this regard (and this isn't just UCD, it's TCD, DCU, NUIM, BUIG, UCC etc...). You should have researched the course much more before coming over. But, I'm sure you were far too busy getting all of them As to begin with! Personally, I think you made a silly mistake leaving. If you found you could piss through the early course material then you could have enjoyed the social life a bit more because things will get harder pretty shortly. UCD is just great craic anyway and you would have grown to love the place, but sure shit happens!;)

i did acheive AAAB in my A levels.

You might think you've achieved something, you haven't. A degree is an achievement, a state exam is a requirement.

misslt

Is it not more worth is this year when the fees are free?!

Open to correction but I thought everyone in the EU could avail of the free fees scheme - I know I don't have to pay them this year.

Whereas in the UK you have min £3k per year?

TirNaNog.

Why didnt you apply for nueroscience in TCD if you knew UCD has a higher % of drinkers?

logic123

because TCD you have to do 2 years general science first so that would be pretty pointless lol.

and fees im talking about things like accomodation and stuff

Mikeyt086

You say the UCD course is 4 years, the UK one is 3. You knew this. You came over specifically to do the 4 years, what did you think the first year was? Bonus neuroscience skillz that only the Irish get?

You should have researched the difference between the 2 courses. If you were already able for the 3 year UK course then that is what you should have done.

You cant blame UCD for doing an introduction to a subject.

ravydavygravy

lol i already decided to go, then i cam back for another 3 days now im back in england, i highly doubt its be able to slot myself back in tbh, the point im trying to make is, i wont have to do a foundation year in england, which means that first yer neuro over here is equivalent to 2nd year neuro in UCD, is it really worth coming back to UCD for a year, considering the enormous cost.

With your attitude I doubt it. If I were you, I'd go to your university of choice, stick your head in the books for the next three years and emerge as another brillant-yet-socially-inept graduate.

There's more to university than what you learn in the lecture hall. Just like theres more to life than neuroscience.

Dave

Colpriz

Uni aint just about education, its also about personal development. You will learn a lot about yourself over the years. I think to do Uni in a different country/culture to your own is one of the best things you can do for yourself personally.

The studious part is up to you and only you. There are plenty of activities/ clubs in UCD that offer alternatives to the drinking nights out. You will find your own group of people who share your interests and can avoid the others if you really want to..give it a shot..maybe some other Irish gals will take your fancy..they may fall for your accent if nothing else!!

Donald-Duck

Mikeyt086 wrote: »

You say the UCD course is 4 years, the UK one is 3. You knew this. You came over specifically to do the 4 years, what did you think the first year was? Bonus neuroscience skillz that only the Irish get?

You should have researched the difference between the 2 courses. If you were already able for the 3 year UK course then that is what you should have done.

You cant blame UCD for doing an introduction to a subject.

Or just do what everyone else did who didn't need the introduction **** and just not go to anything that doesn't give marks.

Loads of irish students don't need the mickey mouse maths in first year science either.

misslt

logic123 wrote: »

because TCD you have to do 2 years general science first so that would be pretty pointless lol.

and fees im talking about things like accomodation and stuff

Okay - but will you not have accomodation fees in the UK too?

That was a reason I didn't fancy the idea of Belfast - tuition and accomodation fees.

meathawk

Stop belittling our college, clearly your mind is made up.Mod it's time to end this pointless thread!

ironclaw

logic123 wrote: »

because TCD you have to do 2 years general science first so that would be pretty pointless loll

Big mistake. It isn't pointless as your instantly more qualified that someone with just a degree in X, Y or Z. You have a broader degree which gives you much better job flexibility.

Craguls

ironclaw wrote: »

Big mistake. It isn't pointless as your instantly more qualified that someone with just a degree in X, Y or Z. You have a broader degree which gives you much better job flexibility.

It also gives you alot more options should you dislike the course.
Sure having to compete academically for your place is a drag but you know what you're getting yourself in for this way.

dyl10

logic123 wrote: »

that first yer neuro over here is equivalent to 2nd year neuro in UCD, is it really worth coming back to UCD for a year, considering the enormous cost.

If you could have gone UCL and you're highly concerned with "academic rigour".
Why did you choose UCD over UCL, in the first place?

hated the place glad to be out of there

leesmom

logic123 wrote: »

lol some people on here arnt exactly nice hehe, no but seriously not all unis are about social and drink, some unis more than othes have a greater deal of people wanting to actually study and not go out on the bail every night, UCD has a higher % of drinkers probs than other universities, not all universities are the same

ucd has a higher % of drinkers than other universities??? false i would think.
im not being a bitch but wait till you get to kings, things may look perfect on the inernet or in their brochures but that doesnt mean that the students there will be any different than ucd. the majority of students want to drink and enjoy themseleves before they get in to the world of work and have other responsibilities:rolleyes:

leesmom

i get the feeling you wont be happy with whatever college you end up in:rolleyes: and thats not meant to sound nasty , just from your posts i get that feeling

logic123

well no offense but if UCD is the great place its cracked up to then i think i woulda have felt more welcomed and at home in two weeks, i only met one girl there who was fantastic and doing a general science course is pointless, you cant learn things which you have already learned off the top of your head. If you cant do basic maths and chemistry by time you do a science degree at uni then you dont deserve to be at uni, thats how i see it.